The Ottawa free trader., 1887-01-29

When man succeeds In lifting himself
over fence by his boot straps, we may be-
GIN TO look about for country which grows
rich by developing Its own resources with.
out getting aid from abroad
What difference does II make with a
western farmer whether his wheat and corn
are consumed in Chicago or LiverpoolH ?
He will not get one cent bushel more
because OF an eastern market. When his
grain Is once shipped II is going to the
place where Il will bring most The price
is fixed In the markets of the world. He
competes with Russia and with India. The
consumer whether in Europe or in this
country, will eat about the same amount.
How much has the home market done
for the farmer of New England and the
Middle States. How do farm lands sell
there todays Vermont falls off in popula-
tion. New Hampshire falls of rapidly in
her farming districts, ana gains less than
1000 people in ten years. All over the
farming regions of New England you see
empty houses and abandoned farms, In
one town in New Hampshire fifty aban-
doned farm houses stand empty, and bush.
es are overgrowing what were once well
titled fields There are home markets
enough, even in signt Of them; but the
farmer cannot live. The reason Is that
even in his home market, he comes in
competition with the producers Of the
world. He competes with the great west
in grain and beef ana pork, and they beat
him. He must take to growing vegetables
or selling milk or something of that sort
for which there Is only limited demand
a few men oVerstock the market. lie can
not raise poultry or sell eggs with profit
because there are other regions which can
undersell Lin. l6 millions of dozens OF
eggs were imported into the L ,. last
year. Why do net our protectionists inter
fere In behalf of "home industries ano
protect the American hen against the pau
per poultry of Canada and Nova Scotia
The notion of building up otner coun
tries at the expense of our own by fai
trade is based upon fallacy. Some as
sumo and base their reasoning upon the
assumption that every trade is a loss to one
party or the other Elliot Warbarton says
John, a Mussuiman, trades with hi
father; he always cheats lin, unless th'
father cheats the SON"
The true theory Is that every fair trade Il
an advantage to both parties concerned
| The basis of trade is that one parts will
what he wants less for that which he want
more. The farmer, for Instance, has gralI
and meat. He wants clothing and books
He parts with that which he can spare t'
procure that which he cannot easily pro
duce. In early days this exchange wa
made by barter. No money WAS handlet
by either party. Now the wants OF com
mon household reach across the globe, an:
every well.furnished house, and every well
spread table has laid dozen different ma
tions under contribution, and employed
hundreds of men in raising, making o
transporting the different articles requires
for common comfort
Our facilities of transportation hav
brought the nations so near together tina
il Is now as absurd for each nation to try t
make itself Independent of all others as
would be to go back to the old style o
barter.
Each nation should produce that whicl
it is best adapted to produce. If govern
ment interferes and attempts to force ir
dustry into Improbable channels, the pre-
tected industries live at the expense o
other industries which are able to carr
themselves and the extra burden. 1t
like fcrcing water up hill. 1t would b
foolish for Illinois, by granting bountie'
or by imposing duties, to expect to max
cotton growing profitable. Our climate
not suitable; yet Illinois is as well fitte
today to grow cotton in competition wit
Mississippi as louisiana is to grow sugs
in competition with Cuba.
1t is because the present tariff fails
give the advantages which its advocate
claim, that there Is strong re-actlo
lagainst it in those districts which hav
tried it most thoroughly. Massaohuset'
has elected two members TO the next col
press pledged to tariff reform. B,th tn
lcotton and wooden manufacturers are Oil
satisfied with the workings of the preser
tariff. Forty thousand of the textile fa'
ric workers of Philadelphia have pet
toned congress for tariff reform. There
uneasiness all along the line. MT Jane
is right in saying that this issue must b
met, and it must be met, not by woikin
party spirit and falling back upon ancler
traditions, but men must look at the Issue
o. tolsy in the light of present facts an
dangers. H. H. d.
PROTECTIONIST's REPLY, No. 8
EDITOR FREE TRApER:-The claim c